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NOTHING TOO BIG

ON THE LAKE

= Freight and Hauling Trips Arranged
RELIABLE INFORMATION: Phone 26

HARRISON HOT SPRINGS, BRITISH COLUMBIA

NOTHING TOO SMALL

GENERAL TOWING AND SCOWS
PASSENGER SERVICE TO ALL PARTS

High Class Berries and

MISSION CITY, B. C.

UNION

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ORD

BUY
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BONDS

eir own search party. They circle and
int aimlessly for several hours. More
iends join in the search and the party
ows in size as the search progresses. After
urs have passed and still no sign of the
ising child or adult, someone gets the
ight idea of calling in the police. The
cal police officer answers the call and
ually gets the search organized on a more
sthodical basis. He may enlist the help of
ldiers from nearby camps. This is fine if
u rule out any assistance from the
iined dog.
If a dog is to be of any use in a search
ere must be co-operation between the dog
id the police officer. If at all possible the
acer should get to the scene as quickly as
ssible, get as much of the history and facts
the case, find out the exact spot where
e lost person was last seen, and if there is
trained dog within easy reach, post a
ard at the spot to keep people away. If
arch parties are already working over the
ound where the missing person is believed
have travelled, try to get them out of the
ea until the dog has had a chance to work
over. If you are notified of the disappear-
ce before any search has been attempted
en you are in luck. In sending for the
g state the length of time since the dis-
pearance, the weather before and since
at time and the type of country to be
irched.
It is usually of little use to take a dog out
search an area where dozens, sometimes
ndreds of volunteer searchers have been
imping the area for a day or two. If the

WELFTH EDITION

dog is taken to the scene quickly and given
a fair chance at the trail, the odds are in
favour of success. However, if he is unable
to find his quarry the delay has only been
slight and the properly organized search
party can still go to work. While they have
been waiting for the dog to show what he
can do, time can be employed in organizing
the searchers and mapping the territory out.

The question often asked is: “How old a
trail can a dog follow?” In the foregoing I
have given one example of a dog that found
a scent sixteen days old—but don’t take
this as a standard. On.a warm day a trail
two hours old will often be fainter and more
dificult for a dog to follow than a similar

The author's “Sally” gave a good account of
herself during the strenuous six weeks’ course.

PACIFIC CO-OPERATIVE
Growers, Packers, Shippers of
Don't Let
Up Now!

trail 24 or 36 hours old under better con-
ditions. A dog brought to the scene of a
search where there is a slight frost on the
ground will get nowhere for a start. But
once the warmth of the early morning sun
gets at the ground, the temporary “refrigera-
tion” is over and the scent is just as strong
as it was the night before. Usually a trail
is at its best just at daybreak when the dew
is evaporating. It’s for this reason that dog
handlers recommend the police officer: to
‘phone for the dog at once for often the
dog can be travelling to the scene by night
and arrive ready for the all-important day-
break start. However, as I say, if the ground
is frosty he will have to wait till later in the
day until the scent is released again. Don’t
forget that the cost of feeding and trans-
porting a large search party comes to far
more than the cost of taking a dog and
handler to the scene. So the advice can be
summarized:

1. Don’t delay in sending for a dog.
2. Protect the areas to be searched against
foot traffic.
Be prepared to give a good picture of the
. Situation.
Protect the start of the trail (if known).
Protect any footprints that might have
been discovered.
6. Don’t expect miracles from the dog.
Given a fair chance he will make a good
showing.

2

eo

COMPLIMENTS OF THE
MISSION CITY BRANCH
No. 57
CANADIAN LEGION (B.E.S.L.)

@

MISSION CITY, B. C.

CORRECTION

In Staff Sergeant Duncan’s article on
the B.S.A. Police of Rhodesia, in our last
issue, we printed the words ‘Kimberley,
Orange River Colony.” This was an error
and should have read “Kimberley, Cape
Colony,” as stated in the author's manu-
script.—Editor.

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